Casket display canopy



Feb. 15, 1944.

c. w. ARNOLD ET AL 2,342,070

CASKET DISPLAY CANOPY Filed Dec. 3, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l omen m Axe/vow @am 6. fig Arroq r 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I flwavmqs BY Wm 1 7662' CLARA W. Ale/V040 0560/? J; HINGE? llllll C. W. ARNOLD .ET AL CASKET DISPLAY CANOPY Filed Dec. 3, 1940 Patented Feb. 15, 1944 UNITED-STATES PATENT OFFICE, 2,342,070 Q CASKET DISPLAY CANOPY poraticn of Ohio Application December 3, 1940, Serial No. 368,350

12 Claims. (01'. 135-5) Tflis iiiventmn relates to curtain or drapery display backgrounds, and more specifically, to a casket display canopy, adapted to form a dignifled background or setting for burial caskets, and the like.

' An object of this invention is to provide a readily adjustable drapery display supporting means which can be conveniently taken apart and packed for transportation.

Another object is to provide means for evenly lighting a body disposed in a casket, thereby eliminating the necessity of applying cosmetics to the body, in order to. give it a semblance of its natural appearance. I v Another object is to provide a casket display canopy which creates an impression of depthand provides ample display {near the casket space for flowers, emblem's,and the like. Other objects are, to provide a casket display means which are dignified and attractive in appearance, and may be adjusted as to color schemes and disposition of the relative position of the various drapes, in" accordance with the re: quirements of each individual case. I

Other and further objects will appear during the course of the following description.

In the drawings accompanying this application and'forming a part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a perspective viewofa casket dis-' play canopy embodying'our invention with parts broken away, the view being taken from the point in front of and considerably above the top of the canopy, looking diagonally downward ion the canopy.

Figure 2 is an enlarged broken perspective view of a part of the drapery supporting means,

Figure 3 is' a broken sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a broken elevational view of the side of the drapery supporting means drawn to a smaller scale,

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of. Figure l'showing thelighting means, Figure 6 is a broken the line 6 6 of Figure '1, c v

Figure Tis a broken perspective view of a modifled form of drapery supporting means,

sectional view takenon Figure 8 is a broken elevational ,view of parts shown in Figure 7 and taken at an angle thereto,

Figure 9 is a broken perspective view of another modified form of drapery supporting.

means while In the drawings the preferred form of our in-' numeral II refers generally to our casket display canopy comprising a framework l2 having side and back drapes l3 mounted thereon. The drapes 13 may be draped over the framework I2 in'such manner that inner and outer folds are provided, thereby permitting interchangeability between theinner and outer drapery folds, for permitting choice of colors and selective choice of drapes to suit individual choice. Obviously, drapes of-various materials, colors, and sizes may beused, "although we have found that plain drapes, without designs, form the most satisfaactory setting for a casket.

The framework 12, as shown in Figure l, includes a pair of standards 14 mounted on feet l5, pivotally mounted on a support rod l6 and connected thereto by link members" II, supportingscrew 2|. The construction and arrangement of the parts forming the standards l4, it will be seen, is such that they may bereadily adjusted tovarious'lengths and thus possess a wide range of utility,

Support rods-Mare providedwith reduced portions receiving'sleeves 22 mounted thereon in' such manner that the sleeves 22 may be rotated thereon, while arms 23 fixedly connected in the sleeves 22' extend horizontally therefrom; as'

shown inFigures 1, 2 3, and 4. The outer ends ofthe arms 23 are provided with a pivotal mountin'gj24 securing an outer curved arm 25 thereto in such. manner that it may be swung on a vvertical pivot. The curved arm 25 permits .1 the hanging of drapes thereon in such mannerthat in appearance it createsfs omewhat the effector a pillar, and the position'of the same may be varied to suitindividual requirements.

The upper end of each sleeve 22 is adapted telescopically to receivea reduced end of a rod Figureloisabroken elevational View or parts.

flip {each rod 29a havinga curved recess in'the top' thereof, these recesses serving conveniently t receive andsupportithe ends of rods 26', 2.1

respectively, which may be suitably welded or otherwise; fastened in. 1 the respective recesses.

Each rod 26, His here'shown (in Figure 1) as.

ing veritcally downwardly therefrom form reap wall means which in this instance comprises two components defining a rearwardly extending 'dihedral recess, giving desirable depth of the drapery rearwardly of the casket and permitting the placement in the recess of flowers, emblems,

and the like. However, while this construction is desirable it is not essential since the rear wall means may be plane or of other form. The drapes hanging from the arms 23 are adapted to form a pair of side wall means of,- the canopy which side wall means may extend from their respective junctions with the sides of the rear, wall means at any desired angle.

Collars 29 mounted around the tops of therods a are provided with parallel rearwardly extending portions 36, while set screws 3| serve'to releasably lock said collar 29 on the rod 20 in an obvious manner. A pair of cooperating upwardly extending arms 32 secured to the portions of thecollars 29, are connected at the bottom by a pin 33 and at the top by a pin 34, adapted to be disposed in a curved recess 35 of an arm 36, forming one top side of the framework I2, while the rear of the arm 36 is adapted to rest on the rear rod 26. v A pin extending through, the side arm 36 serves to retain it in locked position as shown in Figures 2 and 3. i

It will be apparent that the angle with respect to a generally horizontal plane, whicheach rod 26, 21 makes with the respective arm 36 will depend on the rotative positionin which the collars 29are locked or fixed to the respective rods 20a, In Figure 2the rod 26 is shown as substantially at rightangles to the arm 36 but preferably, as shown in Figure 1, each rod 26, 21 extends rearwardly of the, plane defined by the stand ards l4 and so each makes anangle greater than 90 with the respective forwardly extending arm 38. v The forward end of the arm 36 is curved around towards the opposite framework side forming a front portion 31, having a front arm 38 secured thereto-by means of .a-thumb screw 39. If desired, the front arm 38 may be made of more than one member and formed in any suitable manner. Thefront arm 38isconnected .at its other end, at the other side of the framework, to a side arm similar to the side arm, 36. This are rangement of the parts permits the ready a'ssembling and taking apart of the framework l2, For example, the curved side arms 36 may be removed from the framework i2 by merely raising the front arm 38 until the curved portion 35 of the arm 36' is lowered so thatit is notengaged bythe pin 34, thus permitting the arms 36connected by' the arm 38 ,'to be manner, e I

A source of light is provided, inthe form of "an elongated fluorescent lamp 4|, suitably mounted in a reflector 42including a top 43, rear 44; and short front wall 45. The reflector 42 may be formed of suitable material suchfas metal or' the like, which if desired, may be coated on itsjinner surfaceswithreflector materials ofsuitable char readily lifted out, an obvious 51-to the lower collar 53.

acter, and is mounted on the inner surface of the front arm 38 in any suitable manner. By using an elongated light source of uniform brilliance and placing it in a reflector, as described, we have discovered that a soft uniform light is provided for a body located in a casket placed in the canopy II, and due to such even illumination the body has an appearance of naturalness and is free from shadows, which without such illumination could not be accomplished.

Fabric forming the top wall or ceiling of the canopy is desirably provided and this fabric exthe front arm 38, and is desirably extended side- Wise from each of the arms 36 so as to hang loosely over the arms 23 in the form of gusset-like portions. One of these sidewardly extending gusset-like portions is visible at the top of the right of Figure l. ,The fabric forming the top wall of the canopy desirably is extended so as to hang downwardly over the front arm 38 in the form of a short drape 46 and is suitably fastened .to' the front arm at spaced places 41,'as by means of snap fasteners. The short drape 46 conceals the lamp 4| when the canopy is viewed from the outside of its general confines.

It will be evident that by adjusting the collars 29 up or down, thereby adjusting the pin 34, the outer ends of the side arms 36 may be caused to move down or up respectively, so that the top or ceilingof the canopy may be adjusted so as'to be horizontal or to slant forward either downwardly or upwardly, but desirably the top slants upwardly.

' A slightly modified formof our invention shown in Figures 7 and 8, relates to changes made in the manner of mounting the rear rods and side arms on the standards l4; In this form of our invention the rear end'of the side arm 36a, instead of resting on the rear rod 26a, is secured to a sleeve 48 rotatably mounted on the support rod 20, thus permitting the arm 36a to swing-to various positions for placing 'the inner side margins'of the canopy at various desired angular relations to the backthereof. The rear rod 26a is similarly secured to a. sleeve 49 rotatably mounted on the support rod 20, thus permitting changes in the'angular relation of the rod 26a on the standard l4.

vAnother modified form, shown in'Figures 9 and 10, provides for a corresponding mounting of the rod 26 on the standard I 4 and adds changes to the manner of mounting the support rod 36b. In this 'form of theinvention a collar 50; surrounding the support rod 20, is secured to the rod 3612 by means of a pin 5|, while a thumb screw 52 provides for releasably mounting the collar 50 on the rod 26. A lower collar 53 corresponding to the collar 50 is releasably mounted on the rod 20 by means of thumb screw 54, while an upper link 55,'secured to the arm 36b by a pin 56, cooperates with a corresponding lower link secured thereto by a pin 58, and apin 59 secures the link ing, ofthe arm 3617; along the. side of the perpendicular support rods, this'feature'presenting the distinct advantage of facilitatingfthe storing of the device in a case, the desirability of such being apparentiwhenfitiis con'sideredthat the same device is used by undertakers at successive funerals.

The side and back drapes [3 maybe made of suitable material, and if desired, may be hung double over the framework [2, so that a different color scheme may be provided on each side, thus giving a selection of color schemes to'harmonize with the surroundings. The height of the standards 14 may be varied in an obvious manner for forming aicanopy of desired proportion. The angular position of the arms 23 may be varied to suit individual requirements. Likewise, the position of the curved arm 25 may be varied in an obvious manner. The angular relation of the sides and front portions of th framework l2, as shown in Figures 1, 2,.3, and 4 may be varied by raising or lowering the collar 29, and such parts may be disassembled in an obvious manner.

- The position and arrangement of the elongated light 4! provides uniform lighting means, which throws evenlydiffused light along a body placed in a casket disposed in the canopy, while the front drape 46 conceals the light source. Thus, the canopy I I, by providing its own lighting means, may be placed at any desired point in a room away from a window or any outside source of light.

. The canopy disclosed herein is not limited to displaying caskets, as it is equally adapted to be used in various types of merchandise displays and the like. By changing the height of the standards and the angular relations of the various parts of the standards, a canopy of various sizes and proportions may be formed to suit individual requirements. The device may be readily assembled and disassembled to permit storage in cases to facilitate handling and transportation.

It will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art, that the invention disclosed herein may be variously changed, used, or modified, without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing the'advantages thereof, and that the embodiment herein disclosed is illustrative only, and that our inventionis not limited thereto.

We claim:

1. Means for supporting drapes, comprising: means including an arm for supporting a drape; and means for supporting said arm in a desired position, said arm-supporting means including a fulcrum element engageable downwardy by an under outer surface of an intermediate portion of said arm, and including a stop element en ageabl upwardly by an upper outer surface of a portion of said arm spaced from said fulcrum element.

2. Means for supporting drapes,'comprising: means including an arm for supporting a drape; means for supporting said arm in a desired position, said arm-supporting means including a fulcrumelement engageable downwardly by an under outer surface of an intermediate portion of said arm, and including a stop element engageable upwardly by an upper outer surface of a portion of said arm spaced from said fulcrum' element; and one of said surfaces and the respective element engageable thereby being relatively so constructed and arranged that said arm and said arm-supporting means are relatively interlocked when said surfaces are in engagement with said elements and so that said arm may be released and removed from said supporting means merely by predetermined relative rotative and translatory movement of said arm and said supporting means.

3. Means. for supporting drapes, comprising: means including an arm for supporting a drape; and means 'forsup'porting said arm in a desired position, saidarm-supporting means including a fulcrum element engageable downwardly by an under outer surface of an intermediate portion ofsaid arm, and'including a stop element engageable upwardly'by an upper outer surface of said fulcrum element, one of said elements being apin extending. transversely of said arm, and the surface of said arm engageable with said pin being provided by a transverse recess on said arm. i

a 4. Means for supporting drapes, comprising: means includingan arm for supporting a drape; and means for supporting said arm in a desired position, said arm-supporting means, including a fulcrum element engageable downwardly by an under outer surface of an intermediate portion of said arm, and including a stop element comprising a pin extending transversely of saidarm and engageable upwardly by a transverse recess in an upper outer surface of said arm and spaced from said fulcrum.

5. Means for supporting drapes, comprising: a standard comprising a vertical member and a sleeve telescopically assemblable with said member and rotatable about the axis of said member; means including a first arm for supporting a drape and carried by and extending laterally from said sleeve; said standard further comprising support means having a portion telescopically assemblable with and rotatable in said sleeve; means including a second arm for supporting a drape; said support means including a fulcrum element engageable downwardly by an under outer surface of an intermediate portion of said second arm, and-including a stop element engageable upwardly by an upper outer surface of a portion of said second arm spaced from said fulcrum element.

6. Means for supporting'drapes, comprising: a standard comprising a vertical member and a sleeve telescopically assemblable with said member and rotatable about the axis of said member; means including a first arm for supporting a drape carried by and extending laterally from said sleeve; said standard further comprising support means having a portion telescopically assemblable with and rotatable in said sleeve; means including a second arm for supporting a drape; said support means comprising means including a third arm for supporting a drape, said third arm extending laterally from the axis of said portion and serving as a fulcrum element engageable downwardly by an under outer surface of an intermediate portion of said second arm, and said support means including stop means engageable upwardly by an upper outer surface of a portion of said second arm spaced from said fulcrum element.

7. A canopy for displaying an object, comprising: rear wall means adapted to be positioned generally vertically at the tear of the object; top wall means adapted to be positioned generally horizontally a desired distance from a floorand to extend forwardly from said rearwall means over the object; support means comprising standards for e'ngagingthe floor at spaced places, and comprising frame means supported by said standards in a generally horizontal position and constructed and arranged for engaging said top wall means from underneath and supporting said top wall means in said generally horizontal position and for suspending said rear wall means in said generally vertical position from the rear'of said frame means; and meansfor supporting from said frame means underneath and adjacent said top wall means a. source of light for illuminating the object.

A can py for disp yi g an object, comprising: rearwall means adapted to be positioned generally vertically at the rear of the object; top wall means adapted to be positioned generally horizontally a desired distance from a floor and to extend forwardly from said rear wall means over the object; support means comprising standards for engaging the floor at spaced places, and comprising frame means supported by said standards in a generally horizontal position and constructed and arranged for engaging said top wall means from underneath and supporting said top wall means in said generally horizontal position and for suspending said rear wall means in said generally vertical position from the rear of said frame. means; and means for supporting from the front of said frame means underneath and adjacent said top wall means a source of light for illuminating the object from above and in front thereof.

9. A canopy for displaying an object, comprising: rear wall means adapted to be positioned generally vertically at the rear of the object; top wall means adapted to be positioned generally horizontally a desired distance from a floor and to extend forwardly from said rear wall means over the object; support means comprising standards for engaging the floor at spaced places, and comprising frame means supported by said standards in a generally, horizontal position, said frame means including rear arm means extending between and supported by said standards and horizontally spaced sidearm means extending generally horizontally forward from said rear arm means, and front arm means interconnecting said side arm means at their front ends, said frame means being constructed and arranged for engaging said top wall means from underneath and supporting said top wall means in said generally horizontal position and for suspending said rear wall means in said generally vertical position from said rear arm means; and means for supporting from said front arm means a source of light for illuminating the object from above and from in front thereof.

10. A canopy for displaying an object, comprising: rear wall means adapted to be positioned generally vertically at the rear of the object; a pair of side wall means adapted to be positioned generally vertically at opposite sides of said rear wall means; top wall means adapted to be positioned generally horizontally a desired distance from a floor and to extend forwardly fromsaid rear wall means over the object; supportmeans comprising standards, approximately at the respective junctions of said side wall means and rear wall means, for-engaging the floor at approximately the intersections of said junctions with. the floor, and comprising frame means supported by said standards in a generally horizontal position, and constructed and arranged for engaging said top wall means from underneath and supporting said top Wall means in said gen erally horizontal position ancl'for suspending said rear wall means in said generally vertical position from the rear of said frame means; and said support means including a pair of arms for supporting 'said side wall means respectively said arms being swingably mounted on said standards respectively andv extending laterally from said standards toenable said side wall means to be supported in selected angular relationto said rear wallimeans; n

1'1. A canopy for displaying an object, comprising: rear wall means adaptedlto be positioned generally vertically at the rear of the 'object; a pair of side wall means'adaptedto be positioned generallyvertically at opposite sides of said rear wall meansptop wall means adapted to be positioned gen-erally horizontally a desired distance from a floor.and to extend forwardly from said rear wall means over the object; support means comprising standards, approximately at the res ective junctions of said side wall means and rear. wallmeans, for engaging tha floor at approximately the intersections of said junctions with the floor, and comprising frame means supported by said standards in a generally horizontal position and constructed and arranged for engaging said top wall means from underneath and supporting said top wall means in said generally horizontal position and for suspending said rear wall means in said generally vertical position from thelrear of said frame means; said support means including a pair of arms for supporting said side wallmeans respectively said arms being swingably mounted onsaid standards respectively and extending laterally from said standards to enable said side wall means to be supported in selected angular relation to said rear wall means; and gusset-like top wall portions extending laterally from the respective lateral margins of said top Wall means to the tops of said side wall means respectively.

v 12. 'A' canopy for. displaying. an object, comprising: rear wall means adapted to be positioned generally vertically at the rear of the object; top wall means adapted to be positioned generally horizontally a desired distance from a floor and to extend forwardly from said rear wall means over the object; support means comprising standards for engaging the floor at spaced places, and comprising frame meanssupported by said standards ina generallyhorizontal position, said framemeans including rear arm means 'comprising'portions supported by said standards and extending therefromrespectively generally horizontally toward each other rearwardly at an angle, and further I including horizontally spaced side arm means extending generally parallel horizontally forward from said standards, and further including frontarm means interconnecting said side arm means at their front ends, said frame means being constructed and arranged for engaging said top wall-means from underneath and supporting said top wall means in said generally horizontal position and for suspending said rear-wall means in said generally vertical position from said rear :arm means inthe form of a dihedral angle. 1

, l CLARA W. .ARNOLD. OSCAR J. HINGER.v

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECHON. Patent no. 2,512,070. February 15, 19M.

CLARA w. ARNOLD, ET AL."

It is hereby certified that=error appearsin the printed specification ofthe abovenumbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, sec 0nd column, line claim'Y, for "tear" read --rear-; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this Correction therein that the same may confonn to the record of the case in the Patent Office. I

Signed and sealed this 25rd day of May, A. D.- 19%.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

